Washboard.



' PATENTED JAN. 21, 1908.

B. A. CLARK. WASHBOARD;

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 3, 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1,

t t H PATENTED JAN. 21, 1908.

E. A. CLARK. WASHBOARD. APPLIOATION FILED NOV. a, 1906.-

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

2X in gases Figure 1 is a perspective view construction and earns()FFEQE,

EMILY A. CLARK, OF ALEXANDRiA, NEBRASKA.

WASHBOARD.

Specification of Letters Yatent.

Patented Lian. 21, 1908.

Application filed November 3. 1906. Serial to. 341.934.

ful Invention in Nashboards; and I declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enable othersskilleo in the art to which it appertains to make and use the invention,reference being had to the accompanying drawings," and to letters orfigures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecification.

of a wash tub having my invention applied thereto, with the hinged boardbetween the legs, in osition as used; the wash board being shown inhorizontal position; Fig. 2 is a cross section of the tub, showing thewash, board therein in inclined position in side view, the hinged boardbeing turned back; Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the washboard with thehinged board turned back; Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of thewash-board with the hinged board in position as used; Fig. 5 is a rearend view of the wash board; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail perspectiveview; and Fig. 7 is a detail fragmentary bottom lan view of the washboard on a smaller sca e.

The invention relates to apparatus for washing clothes, and it consistsin the novel combinations of parts, as hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the invention, the letter-a,represents an ordinary wash-tub of round form, which is rovidcd at oneside with vertical series of earings b,- at diiferent heights. Usuallythese hearings are made in, the form of two hangers 0, having hooks (1,adapted to engage the marginal portion of the tub. Each hanger isprovided with transverse Wire bearings, so that racks are formed, andwhen the wash-board is placed in position in the tub, the ends of itsextensions or legs are engaged with the bearings according 'to theheight at which the board is designedtobe used. A lower inclined wirebearing t is also rovided at each side, having an abutment b at theback, the bearing being used when it is desired to place the lower endsof the washboard legs in the bottom of the tub, or when the board is tobe used as an ordinary washboard at the usual incline.

The Wash-board e, is intendedto be used in horizontal or approximatelyhorizontal position, the inclination being determined by the characterof the work. The wash board consists of the frame f, having side bars 9,and a rubbing board m held in'place by a staple p. provided with hookdevices 2, whereby it is connected to the marginal portion of the tub,opposite to the rack bearings devices 2, are designed to be about two orthree inches in head of the washboard to be placed within the tub, ashort distance below the margin of its wall, but may be removable asshown and hooks of difierent length substituted. The side bars of thewash-board terminate irp legs or extensions m and the length of the-washboard is designed to be about equal to the inside diameter of thetub, a few inches below its margin, in order that when placed in saidtub in horizontal or approximately horizontal position it will abut atboth ends against the wall of the tub, and will, in this way, be heldagainst longitudinal movement. At the same time it will be retained inposition by the supports at the head and at the leg extensions. The headbar of the washboard is straight from side to side, when the wash-boardis in position, a segment-shaped interval or passage n being providedbetween the head bars of the wash-board and the inner surface of the tubwall, which serves as a drain passage.

The frame of the wash-board, between its extensions m, and at the lowerend of the rubbing board, is provided with a smoothdepressible board orplate w, which is normally-held up a ainst s iral spring u, ut can bereadily pressed ownward against the action of the spring, when desiredto di the article being washed into the water at the chd of the'strokeof the o erator. This board w, tlrely back on its allel with thewash-board where it is temporarily held by a hook and strap loop connec,is received in.

tion u. This spiral spring grooves of the side bars, so as to be flushwith the surface thereof and not interfere or obstruct. A flexible guardg, of canvas or other suitable material, having a wire frame, isdesigned to be hingedlyeonnected to the endof the slide board w, at w..It may thus. move backward and forward to accommodate itself to theposition of the wash-hoard as adjusted. The side wires of the frame of.

this guard extend through the slide board hinges into a position parb.The hook length in order to allow the said extensions by a -may beturned enmakes a great near the edges and have lapping branches w",underneath the same, said branches being fastened by sta les w whichallow a sliding movement of t ebranches to accommodate the same toexpansion and contraction of the wood of the slide board.

'lhcwash-board is designed to be narrower than ordinary wash-boards,being about ten inches wide, in order to facilitate lateral traction indrawing the article being washed transversely over the rubbing board,and also to increase the tub s ace at each side of the wash-board. Theru )bing surface of the board is however about the'same as is usual,inasmuch as this surface extends .up to within one and one half inchesof the upper or front end of the board, this being the width of the headbar 8. In this manner the necessity for stooping over the board to reachthe rrbbing surf ace is avoided. Every inch closer the rubbing surfaceis brought to" the operator difference in the labor required In the caseof these washing a pliances, it

' is designed to lessen the labor 0 washing as well as to render theoperation less wearing.

being washed v ner, without ocnl ng the back.

The usual position of a woman bending over a tub in washing is designedto be avoided, as the tub can be raised upon a supp' t, high enough forthe operator to move the articles in a horizontal to and fro man- Theweight of the goods on L...erubbing board. is suilicient for thenecessary pressure, and the friction is also increasedover hat which isnormal to an inclined rubbing surface.

Having t 18 described my invention, what I cla m as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is- 1. A wash board havim a rubbing boardprovided with a deprcssib lc smooth surface extension at its, lower end.

2. A wash board having a rubbing board provided. with a depressiblesmooth surface extension at its lower end, and means for returnin saidextension tonormal position when epressed. v

3. A wash board having-a rubbing board. provided with .a depressiblehingedv smooth surface extension at its lower end, means for returningsaid extension to position when depressed, and means for securing saidextension in reversed position when not in use.

4. A wash board having a rubbing board. rovided with a deprcssibleextension at its ower end, said extension having a guard. de-

vice at its lower end.

5. A wash board having a rubbing board provided with a dcpressibleextension at its ower end, said extension having an upward projectingadjustable guard device at its lower end.

6. A wash board having a rubbingboard provided with a depressibleextension at its lower end, said extension having an adjustable guarddevice at its lower end, including a wire frame having a pivotalengagement with said extension, and having terminallapping brancheshaving sliding engagement with securing staples.

7. The combination with a wash tub, having rack supports, of a washboard having end legs adapted head-end of the board having supportinghooks projecting beyond the same.

8. The combination with a wash'tub, having removable rack supports, of anarrow wash board having a narrow head framebar, ha ing removablesupporting hooks projecting beyond the same and adapted to fit over theedge of the. tub, reduecc -end supporting l gs adapted to engage stepsorts, and a rubbing board having its ru bing surface extending up tosaidhead frame bar.

9. The combination with a Wash-tub having removable rack devices at oneside, located closely adjacent and parallel to the side wall of the tubof a wash-board having leg extensions adapted to removably ,engago stepso said rack devices, and having its head fitting closely against theside wa l of the tub, arid si' pporting means for the head end of thewash-board.

In testimony whereof. I ailix my signature,

in'presence of two witnesses. I

. EMILY A. CLARK.

' Witnesses: E. E. OVERMAN, 'ltno NA OvnmvrAN.

trlit in such supports, the

of said rack suo-

